Central governance of undergraduate medical school curriculum is compared with traditional departmental approaches, based on experiences at the University of Pittsburgh (Pennsylvania). It is argued that centralized governance has more advantages but greater cost. A major challenge of this approach is in resolution of faculty conflict between…

A survey of 1,499 graduate business students at 7 colleges and universities investigated perceptions of potential benefits of an advanced degree, and their relationships with degree type, school size/type, and student characteristics. Five perceived benefits included research and analytical skills, competitive advantage, monetary reward, career…

The changing emphasis in teacher education from a theoretical perspective to a practical, performance-based perspective has forced teacher educators to revise and rethink their instructional techniques and styles. The Hearing Impairment Teacher Training Program at Eastern Kentucky University is currently being restructured in response to the new…

One trend in educational and cognitive learning theory being adopted by designers of computer-aided learning (CAL) tools and expert systems is case-based reasoning, or the use of previous examples or cases to solve new problems. This article examines principles of this method, including guided exploration, memory aids, and partially self-directed…

Describes a research project that takes a problem-solving approach to teaching about social stratification. Students identify a local issue related to stratification (homeless, welfare reform, etc.). They break into small groups and design a research plan, conduct a literature search, perform the fieldwork, and arrive at a synthesis. (MJP)

Describes a six-week project culminating in a student-designed exit survey for graduating seniors. Exit surveys assess a department's strengths and weaknesses in curricula, instruction, and advising. Discusses the students' design and implementation of the survey. Students felt that the project enhanced their critical thinking and research skills.…

Characterizes economist John Maynard Keynes as immoral, decadent, and short sighted. Criticizes his economic theories for manifesting these same qualities and claims that these theories hold predominant sway over high school economics education. Mentions several supposedly biased passages from textbooks but provides no examples. (MJP)

Describes the first year of an ongoing professional development school project designed to integrate computer technology into elementary school lessons, while simultaneously providing educational technology experiences for preservice teachers and student teachers, as well as their cooperating teachers and college supervisors. College students…

Factors in development of a new introductory economics course, primarily for nonmajors, are discussed. These include selection of course content to capture student interest and reflect societal change, creation of a more stimulating classroom environment, and use of three cooperative learning activities on poverty, inflation, and budget deficits.…

A survey of teacher education programs in Ohio examined the content and methods of instructional media and technology courses. Discusses topics that should be included in a basic instructional media course: production techniques, technology integration, use and maintenance of audiovisual equipment, selection and evaluation of media materials,…

This article provides a case study (an eighth-grader with autism) within a case study (an urban middle school) in terms of the implementation of positive behavioral support (PBS). Information is provided on the characteristics of three key components of schoolwide PBS, universal support, group support, and individual support. (Contains…

A series of twelve books on language teaching, written over a period of ten years, is reviewed. The series' intent is to promote the practice of informed teaching to empower student teachers to act as autonomous agents and to make considered pedagogic choices, based on sound theoretical knowledge, according to their particular teaching/learning…

Offers faculty a systematic way to implement technology/print combinations relative to distance learners' needs and backgrounds. Categorizes types of learner interactions, and discusses the relevance of the entry-level knowledge of the learner to appropriate technology selection. (AEF)

Describes development of San Diego State University's middle level teacher preparation program. Details how the program was designed explicitly to prepare credential candidates to: work effectively with young adolescents; be productive contributors on interdisciplinary teams; serve as effective advisors; accommodate diversity by focusing on the…

Discusses integrating mathematics/science with measurement for grades 6-12. Provides Web addresses for companies manufacturing data grabbers (instruments for gathering data in electronic form for graphing and analysis by graphing calculators and computers) and for sites offering instructional materials. Describes projects in architecture,…